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n~ SASHA (Two Weeks Later) ~

nShe woke that morning with a groan and didn’t open her eyes immediately, though her heart was pounding.

nEven though they’d found plenty of grasses, and Zev had collected a couple of extra furs, she was still finding sleeping on the ground an adjustment.

nThud, thud, thud, her pulse sang in her head. It had started the first morning after they’d seen all the humans arrive. Between stress and usually waking without feeling Zev’s warmth next to her, she’d woken up every morning with an adrenalin rush.

nTwo weeks. For two weeks they’d evaded the humans. It had taken them that long to move slowly out, in long spirals, from the City and the Village.

nSasha grimaced just thinking about the hordes of people they’d brought through, rifling through the City and the dwellings in the village. They’d crawled over the place like ants—and made her stomach twist in much the same way. 𝑛𝑂𝒱𝞮𝔩𝗎𝗌𝐛.𝐂𝑶𝑚

nLike insects, you always wanted to be able to see where they were. But they were being smart. Thana was a large place, easy to hide large numbers of people—or Chimera. So the team were slowly searching, and leaving sentries anywhere they’d searched to make sure the Chimera didn’t move in behind them.

nThat had been great for the first two weeks, but now, even though their numbers were a lot thinner since they were leaving people every half-mile in the forest, they had made their way almost to the cave from the village.

nIt had looked the day before like they’d be crossing the valley. At this rate they wouldn’t be in Zev and Sasha’s area for another few days, but it was like a ticking clock in her ear, threatening, always threatening.

nThe humans were coming.

nThe humans were looking for them.

nThe humans weren’t giving up.

nZev had thought when they didn’t find anyone in the settlements or nearby areas, they would have just destroyed the place and moved on. But the humans must have been very convinced that the Chimera were still in Thana, because they were relentless.

nWhat were they going to do when they reached all the way to their hiding spot?

nThey spoke only in their heads now, just in case. And even that, very little.

nSasha was concerned about Zev. His eyes had become haunted. He still hunted every other day—in fact, had hunted up enough food for several days yesterday in fear that it wouldn’t be safe to roam away from her soon.

nNeither of them spoke about what they would do if the humans found them. Zev just kept saying he believed he could hide her.

nBut he wasn’t sleeping. Barely ate. He’d lost weight. And he’d become snappish.

nSasha was more than concerned about him, she was downright worried. And still trying to convince him that they should try to sneak into the Gateway and come back to Thana at a time when Xar was Alpha and Zev was gone—because things were at least a little peaceful then, right? Even if it was screwed up. They could hide in that time and no one would know.

nBut Zev not only felt it was too risky to try for the Gateway when the humans were still using it every day, but also reminded her that while the humans couldn’t scent, Chimera could. He said if they went back to that time, they’d be scented by someone within hours. And while they might put Sasha’s scent down to an unknown team member, they’d know Zev.

nHe’d never heard tales or had anyone ask him about that. He believed that meant they’d never done it.

nShe had to trust his judgment, but it wore at her. What if he was wrong?

nWorse, what if he was right and they really had nowhere to go? Just sitting there waiting for a human to stumble on them?

nShe sat up. It was still dark, but she knew from the way she felt that it must be almost dawn. She was falling asleep earlier every night, and waking earlier every morning.

nStress.

nAlso, there was little do when they couldn’t risk making fires or smoke once the sun went down.

nWell, they might have found ways to fill that time quite pleasantly, but Zev was… shut down.

nWorried? Sasha was on the verge of panic. He hadn’t touched her in over a week, and sometimes when he looked at her she saw flashes of that self-loathing.

nShe’d tried to talk to him about it the night before and he’d gotten up and walked away.

nWhat the hell was happening to them.

nShe got up, wishing her clothes didn’t feel like they were stiff and about to walk away on their own. She must reek, she knew. But she couldn’t smell Zev. She prayed his sensitive nose wasn’t offended by the stink of her. That he leaned into his animal nature on that. She was horrified.

nHustling slowly out of the cave, hugging the wall the way he’d shown her until she could make sure the coast was clear, Sasha leaned out to find Zev laying on the outcrop again.

nZev, she said softly in his head.

nHe turned slowly. His eyes were puffy and had circles that looked like dark bruises under them.

nI’m okay, I’ve just been watching. And I’ve made a plan.

nHis voice was flat, even in her head, but he seemed a little less tense than he had been last night.

nWhat do you want me to do? she asked hesitantly.

nBring the furs. It might be a difficult night, but we’re going to need them as towels and to keep us warm while our clothes dry. We’re going to wash ourselves and our clothes, because it might be a while before we can again, and I’m worried about your skin.

nShe was starting to get irritated patches of skin all over her body, but she was surprised he’d noticed. She hadn’t mentioned it and they hadn’t made love.

nOf course, his eyes were good in the dark as well.

nOkay, she said carefully. But, Zev… are you okay?

nHe narrowed his eyes. Of course I’m not okay. I’ve put my mate at risk, my people are gone, and my son is in the hands of the most **ed up people in creation. Of course I’m not okay! he repeated. Are you?

nWell… when he put it that way.

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